Jensen was born in 1815 on the Island of Sylt, off the coast of Denmark. He was a sailor and made several trips around Cape Horn and was in California as early as 1844. In 1848 when he was a captain of a ship his crew deserted in San Francisco for the gold fields. He then went to the mining area of Sacramento and opened a store. His friends urged him to come to southern California where he eventually built a store in Agua Mansa but was flooded out in 1862. He sold the property and purchased interest in the Rubidoux Rancho. He served five terms with the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County. Jensen died December 12, 1886 and is buried at Agua Mansa Cemetery in Colton, CA.
Photo courtesy of City of San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society